We all remember the impact that Malceski had in the 2012 Grand Final and the Hawks acknowledged this by tagging him when these sides met in round seven.

In that game it was Michael Osborne who got the job (and did it well, keeping the Swan to just 11 disposals) but he is out of the Hawthorn side at the moment.

Malceski is integral to the Swans' game-plan and gives it a huge amount of run out of the backline – this year he is averaging 23 disposals, 2.5 bounces (fourth in the AFL) and 8.1 rebound 50s (easily number one in the AFL – next best is 5.9 per game).

 

Leigh says: "We know that Rhyce Shaw has hurt his knee and is out again, so that's why they've been playing Jarrad McVeigh in defence. But the numbers show that Malceski is the one that carries the ball out of the Swans' back line.

Hawthorn quite often plays a defensive forward on a good opposition rebounder, and normally Jordan Lewis seems to be the one to go to that half-back type.

Lewis is a dangerous player himself; even though he's trying to stop the rebound of the defender he's still capable of kicking goals.

So with him as a defensive forward it's not a total shutdown, it's actually trying to make the other guy think about you too."

 

Sewell was omitted from the Hawthorn team in round 16 due to poor form, which was a strong message to one of the Hawks' veteran players. Since that round there have been many questions about the security of his place in the side, and whether he should hold his spot in the lead up to the finals.

In last year's losing Grand Final, Sewell was Hawthorn's best player. He finished second in Norm Smith Medal voting after collecting 33 disposals to go with 11 clearances and 11 tackles.

 

Leigh says: "There's been some debate about whether he's in Hawthorn's best team come finals. My view has always been, and it was even reinforced after the Collingwood game, that you've got to build on your strengths. And one of Hawthorn's strengths is Mitchell and Sewell getting first use of the ball.

It's all well and good to have speed on the outside, but if you don't win the ball in the first place it doesn't matter.

The big games are normally hard fought. The one thing we always say about finals in general is that there are not a lot of easy kicks. The games tend to be much more contested that your home and away encounters.

If you can't win your own footy then you're normally found out in finals.

We know what he can't do but we also know what he can do. And in that first quarter against Collingwood (in round 21) his numbers were amazingly good. In the first quarter when Hawthorn really got a hold of the game Sewell had 13 disposals and three clearances and it was just an outstanding quarter.

For me I can't see any logic in leaving Sewell out. In fact I think he's integral to the team."

 

Hawthorn to win

 

Leigh says: "I'll stick with Hawthorn. Geelong aside, I think that they are still the team to beat. They've got the majority of their team together and should be too strong."